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Greenspan - the Case For the Defence

My fascination with the Judicial System Structure of today's society was furthered and strengthened after reading and analyzing the works of Edward Greenspan. This superbly written biography recollecting past cases and important events in Greenspan's life allowed myself, the reader, to learn more about Jurisprudence and the Criminal Code. The entire casebook revolves around several main themes including the balance of Positive & Natural influences in the courtroom, whether a lawyer's consience intervenes with his duty as a counsellor, and the alarming rate of perjury occuring in front of the juries. To be more concise and clear to the point, Greenspan's book is a diary of controversial and beneficial issues which have hovered around our criminal courts and will continue to plague and pester them for years to come. By observing and understanding certain issues presented in his book, I was able to comprehend what type of person Greenspan is, what he believes in, what he represents and what he would do for his profession. The wheels of Jurisprudence are always turning, and I came to realise how Greenspan worked and bargained for his status in the country to be solidified. This book also flourished with innovative situations pertaining to the most diversified of criminal charges, to the most uncanny regions of law ever dealt. It was this thorough look at Greenspan's life which impressed this reviewer the most.

It was quite clear that after the fourth page, I came upon the conclusion that this casebook would create a most influential reaction to anyone who had displayed any interest towards our Law system in general. Part One of the novel, No Little Clients, presents the reader with the author's proposed thesis. His ambition is to defend innocent people accused of crimes. Whether they are innocent or guilty without being proven guilty is irrelevant to Mr. Greenspan. A lawyer's consience must not be his deciding factor when advising or counselling a client. This viewpoint is elaborated in Part Two (Not Above The Fray) and explained frivolously by Greenspan himself. Throughout the entire novel, the theme bends and curves itself around different and unavoidable situations, but retains its original meaning that no one is guilty until proven so. Greenspan refers to this phrase countless times and explains to the reader that he will not allow his moral beliefs to conlfict with the path of justice (delicately and persuasively explained by both Greenspand and the co-author, George Jonas in Parts Four, Five and Six of the novel). Chapter 13, Playing God, emphatically displays Greenspan's concern with the treatment of his clients and the decision to push the client until he can make a decision that is in favour with the lawyer himself. The significance of this chapter is that the reader detects the amount of responsibility and endurance is required in order to become a successful pawn of the judicial system. At this point, Greenspan's thesis huddles itself around the principle of being a "Pawn of the System" and only serving the system without prejudice and socialistic conflicts.

The authors begin their novel with several different themes which branch out and eventually combine. Walking The High Wire is an excellent chapter which focuses on the effects of intended falsehoods employed by the prosecution. When Greenspan takes on a case where the courtroom is changed into a stage for the benefit of a woman who allegedly is raped by his client, it is later realised that through careful investigation and newly discovered evidence, can the truth be used to assist the defendant in being acquitted. In the chapter And Nothing But The Truth, the author presents a situation where even those who enforce the law may lie to obtain a conviction of an innocent person. When two police officers re-create a false scene for the jury, the reader begins to understand why the author ponders upon different moral questions and creates circumstantial, yet fruitful answers. Like a detective fiction novel, Greenspan proves without a doubt that there is more than meets the eye in accepting and defending a client. As witnessed in the chapter Hi Mom, Guess Who's In Jail, the reader learns about how the media and police almost influence a jury into convicting an innocent man of a murder he did not commit. Although the outcome of some cases is the not always agreeable with the reader, it is usually found to be in the best interest of our Justice system. A Large Blue Suitcase is a particularily intriguing chapter that focuses on how police constables try to reinforce a lie in order to obtain the truth. As quoted by Greenspan himself: "The Crown does not win or lose as long as justice truimphs". His constant disagreement with honorable Judges of the court is commonplace in the book and is viewed not as a serious outlook towards certain lordships, but merely as a constant pain for Greenspan. Always equipped with the outgoing, full of energy, enthusiastic type persona, an unfamiliar judge may become easy prey for this bustling attorney. While reading the Justice In High Heels section of the book, I came across various examples of how society today is being powered by the overwhelming rise of feminist demands. Although Greenspan himself does not prefer to enagage in a verbal or emotional war with many of these women, he does not deny wishing he could just establish a section of the criminal code for them. In the chapter called Out Of The Mouth Of Babes, Greenspan is found defending an alleged rapist who is accused based on the analogy of one person. Even though this alleged rapist is a serving police member, respected member of his community and has a clean record up to this point, he is still nearly accused and sentenced severly. The author solidifies the book's reliability and rationality by focusing on issues such as these and elaborating on them. The chapter entitled Going To Bat For The Pitcher was another reliable instance where the reputation, admiration and future of a Baseball Player is in jeopardy due to a possible drug possession charge laid against him. Greenspan is not only honoured in defending such a popular client, but lets the reader learn about the difference between a clean record and a blemished one. Murder Or Nothing is perhaps the most relished of chapters in the entire novel due to its shocking approach towards the fine line of self defence and murder. The author takes the time to both reitarate and brief the reader of the circumstances involved, and the possible conclusive outcomes. I found myself amused at decisions which seemed beyond the reach of power for a criminal lawyer, but the educational value of the book was impeccable. Some Time To Kill was a regular 'Whodunit' mystery which can be found as rather frivolous in conclusion while curious in decision. Greenspan is faced with an overwhelming amount of evidence against him that could lead his client to over 25 years in prison, but using his skillful tactics and knowledge of jurisprudence, he wins one of many cases in his long career. Twelve Good Men And True is the only chapter which allowed the reader to sit back and comprehend the situation involving many different solutions to avoid any racial, social or political prejudice of any kind from occuring in our courts today. The Case For The Defence takes a plunge behind the closed doors and allows the author to voice his opinion all the while considering the other side of the coin. Since becoming a lawyer nearly three decades ago, Edward Greenspan has written a juriprudential masterpiece which contains not only a recollection of important case facts and information, but even family based and social events which have changed his life. The reader is allowed to walk through with him as he climbs the ladder of success, while learning about his faults and how he accepts them. Throughout the book, Greenspan uses many sources and references which allow him to successfully solidify and back up any aspect of law he discusses. Even letters and memos sent by respected citizens of society justify how valuable he is to Canada and to those who are in need of a defence lawyer. The effort involved in establishing such a novel must have been quite massive on the part of Greenspan. Apart from digging into the vault of memories and remembering the most pleasurable and painful events, he was extremely careful in avoiding the use of names or places which are best kept 'off the record'. Those who contributed were rewarded with his superlative creation. I would recommend this casebook full of Edward L. Greenspan's memories and tales to anyone who seriously wished to pursue Law as an occupation or even a hobby. Apart from the controversial and brilliant decisions incorporated by Canada's fiercest Criminal Lawyer, there is a natural blend of political concern and social structure which comes with the territory. Greenspan, The Case For The Defence, is the finest biography/casebook I have ever studied thanks to the ever-lasting presence of educational values combined with fascinating jurisprudential events and occurences. It can be said that Justice and Liberty for all can only be achieved through a damn good lawyer!

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